Wondering to how order the right ring size?
You’ve found a ring you love (or that you know your love will love) but how do you make sure it fits? And how to put it right if it’s not quite perfect…
Working out what ring size has to be one of the most frequently asked questions around here! And it’s always good to know what to do once you’ve bought a ring, if it doesn’t quite fit.
Use a specialised ring sizer
If you’re not planning a surprise proposal, the most straightforward method for making sure a ring fits perfectly, is to use a ring sizer. You can ask for one to be sent at the same time as placing your order, that way, you’ll be in the workshop schedule, which saves you waiting time, and you can get back to me with your size as soon as you’re able to. I will then update your order with the size. If you’re buying one of the rings in the “ready to go” section, ideally you’ll need to have some idea of the size you need (fear not though, they can be tweaked later if need be - you can even ask for a sizer to be packed in with your order just in case).
Ring sizers shipped within the UK usually take a day or so. Delivery time to the rest of the world may take longer so it's probably more efficient to borrow or buy one locally to you, or get measured at a high street jeweller and then email me the size to update your order.
If you’d simply like to buy a sizer to get ahead before you order your ring, you can buy a plastic sizer or a set of returnable metal sizers from the shop.
Get Measured
Alternatively, you can visit a high street jeweller and ask them to size your finger/s using a sizing gauge or sizer rings. Don’t be tempted to simply use a rings on display as a measure because you can’t be certain that whoever labelled it got the size correct in the first place! Do keep in mind what kind of width band you’d like your Glasswing ring to be, because the wider the ring, the larger the size you’ll need. The jeweller you visit should have sizers for narrower and wider style rings. If you get a sizer through me, I’ll be able to work out the slight variation based on the width of the ring you’re ordering.
Planning a surprise proposal?
Maybe you’re buying a ring in secret and don’t want to be enquiring directly about your beloved’s ring size, so in that case you will need to use your wily powers of estimation and detection. Read on for a list of cunning plans you can try!
Measure an existing ring
If there's a ring that your partner wears that you do know the size of, watch out for which finger it fits on, from there I can normally make a good guess from other fingers and even better, clothes size / height measurements from you if you happen to know.
Alternatively, borrow one of her/his rings and take it to a jeweller to be sized. You need to be careful with this method because it could backfire on you! Make sure that you grab a ring that s/he wears on a similarly sized finger. Make sure that you choose a ring that isn’t overly important and wouldn’t cause any emotional distress if is noticed as missing!
You can also trace the ring on a piece of paper. Carefully draw a circle using the the inside of the ring as your guide. Do this several times with a sharp pencil or fine pen to make sure that your ring traces look consistent. I can usually figure out the diameter of the ring from your sketch if you send it via post, or you can use it to send me the inside measurement if you can. Alternatively you can lay the ring on an accurate ruler or measuring tape and measure the inside diameter. This can easily be converted into a ring size.
Ask a friend
A great way to find out his/her ring size is to ask one of their friends. Friends occasionally do know this information! And, if the friend doesn’t know already, s/he may be the one who can get away with asking casually. If you think they might be able to take your partner along for engagement ring shopping for themselves, or just “for fun” even better! This will certainly involve getting sized by a professional, and then the friend can discreetly report back to you.
Tell a little white lie
If you are absolutely set on a surprise proposal but you still want to confirm their ring size directly from the source, you could try asking your partner in a very subtle, smooth way. You could even pretend that you are going to buy a ring for a family member. Make sure that the “recipient” is someone whose hands are similar in size to your intended. Casually ask what her ring size is for reference. If you really want to be convincing, buy an inexpensive ring and show it to them. Have them try it on, and maybe afterward you can actually give that ring to your relative to appease your guilty conscience and cover your tracks!
Can my ring be resized after I’ve received it?
Yes!
If the size isn’t quite right after you’ve received it, or after you’ve proposed, resizing isn’t a problem at all. It can usually be done very quickly in the workshop either here or at a high street jeweller or workshop near you. If you’d like it done here, you’ll just need to contact me to let me know and then send the ring back, along with the correct size. If you’d like to check at home with a ring sizer at that point, I can pop one in the post for you.
Stretching: Slight stretching to enlarge your ring 1-1.5 sizes is a fairly simple process and is free, (you’ll just need to cover the cost of postage). If it’s a bigger stretch you need, especially for example if there are stones/settings involved, and more than 1.5 sizes is needed, it may need to be done by specialist laser welder which I can organise, (or you can also organise locally to you).
This normally costs around £35 + VAT.
Reducing: Making your ring smaller is also totally possible but calls for a slightly more complicated process, involving cutting and removing some material and re-soldering and re-finishing. This also normally costs around £35 + VAT plus P+P. This can usually be done locally to you, or again, it can be done here if you send it back with the required size.
Get in touch, I’m always happy to help!
If you need any further advice at all, just pop a message in the contact form, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Interesting hand facts
Our dominant hands tend to be slightly bigger. (Remember to make sure you are measuring for their left hand if it’s for an engagement ring!)
The most common women’s ring sizes are L or M (or US 5 or 6)
Wider rings have a tighter fit than thinner bands, so if you borrow a ring for me to measure, try to make sure that it is the similar width as the ring you plan on ordering. Ultimately, if it needs a tweek afterwards, resizing isn't an issue, and is something I do quite often. You may even be able to get it done locally to you.
Fingers have a habit of changing over time, and it’s not unusual for rings to need altering over the years. Jewellers are used to this, so if down the line you find your ring isn’t quite as comfortable as it used to be, or you’re struggling to keep it on and are fearful of losing it, do get in touch either with me or a jeweller local to you to see about getting the size altered.
